Water treating system



Dec 4, 1956 J. F. sEBALD WATER TREATING SYSTEM IN VEN TOR.

YJOSEPH FSEBALD 2,713,029 WATERv TREATmG SYSTEM' Joseph F. Sebald, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to Worthv ington` Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of `Delaware Applicatin Apriiis, i954, serial No. 423,579 9 claims. (c1. 21o-16) ,nted Stfilsv Patlf ice remaining in said means can 'be returned to the regenerant slurry and other miscellaneoussuspensions, and a secondary softening means for reducing the hardness content of the water to `an infinitely small value by passing the Vwater therethrough before it goes to service use.

The secondary softening means in more recent years consistsV of Aone or more Itanks through which the water is passed by gravityA flow which contains a bed of ionexchange material such as Zeolite This Zeolite has the chemical property of being able to reduce the hardness even in treated water down to as low as .l p. p. m. in a single pass therethrough. p Y

When the chemical property of such ion-exchange material is used `up after a period of operation, as is well known in the art, the material must be regenerated. In addition, Ait has been found that these materials must'be handled with a certain degree of cautionespecially when starting up to avoid 4the effect of thermal strain, thev fragile nature of these materials causing them to crack and crumble `under such strains thereby reducing their eiiciency. 1 Y t The present invention covers in a water treating system; a regenerant system including a-direct contact, nondeaeratingdtype, heater and a coacting recirculating pump, adapted for mixing,"preheating anddeaerating thefregenerant solution vprior to regeneration of the ion-exchange materials; andfor deaerating and preheatng of raw water delivered to the direct contact `heater and for gradually feeding the same Vto lthe secondary softening means until it is brought? up to normal4 operating temperature of the vWater treating system in which it functions; the pump further acting to pass the regenerant solution to the tanksholding the ion-'exchange'ma'terial or to return un-` used and unsaturated regenerated solution Vto the regenerant supply tank.` Y' i p,

Accordingly, it is--an object of the present invention to provide aregenerant 4arrangement for a water treating system in whichthe regenerantsolution will be deaerated and preheated before use; y t It is another object of the present invention to provide means for gradually bringing theion-'exchange softening 2,773,029 t Patented Dec.4, A1956I 2 medium to operational temperature without thermal shock, ,y l

It is a fur er object ofthe present invention to provide means for returning unused and unsaturated regenerant solution back to theregenerant solution source for saturation and reuse. I

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which willube first described in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing a diagrammatic ow and equipment sketch of a hot process water treating system of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming fthe invention will be specifically pointed out inthe claims. t

Referring more particularly Vto the drawings, Figure l shows a hot process deaerating type water softener 1, which may be any suitable type, of which there are several well known on the open market such as those described in my prior issued P-atents Nos. 2,427,422 and 2,379,753.

Raw water isled to the main or primarywater softener 1y from any suitable source (not shown) through a raw waterconduit2 which is` connected to spray valves3 disposed at the upper end of the water softener 1. A pressure operated diaphragm valve4 in the raw water conduit 2 actuated by the level of treated water in the water' softener 1 regulates the flow of waterto the softener.

A `metering device S in the raw water conduit coacts; with and regulates the chemical feed system 'generally' designated 6 which mixes. and delivers suitable' quantities of chemical solution for water softening by means of pump 7 and chemical feed conduit 8 to the upper end of the water softener 1 so as to be joined with the raw water sprayed from the spray valves 3 and to fall by gravity flow therewith. f

Theincoming raw water andchemical mixture will be heated simultaneously by direct heat exchange relation with steam conducted `to the steam inlet 9 from a suitable source (notshown), the steam condensate joining with the vrawv water and delivered therewith. Released oxygen and non-condensible gases will be vented through the venting meanspltl to atmosphere.

The heated raw water and chemical solution mixture will interact as it passes downwardly through the water softener 1 and will reachthe storage portion 11 thereof as treated water passing uniformly through the spaced axial opening 12 inbatlle 13 to a discharge chamber 14 whence it passes outwardly through the treated water discharge out1et`15 into `the main treated water conduit 16, alli of which-is, clearlyshown in the drawing. It will be understood that while the present'type of water softener is shown and described that any type of water softener may be used, hence the relative positions of .the inlet and outlet connections on the water softener will vary depending on the particularptype used without departing from the spirit of the invention. t

Under thenormal service conditions the treated water is passed to a'pressure filter meansv and thenceythrougha secondary softener, as shown in the present invention, to the pressure filter battery 11 and secondary battery 18, it being understood thatV while two ormore units are shown in a battery, that one unitmay be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention. The common practice of two units being adapted to facilitate necessary cleaning or regeneration of a unitA without stopping the l operation of the entire water treating system.

are generally manually operated and may be any suiti ablertype-such as 4globe'valves easily 'purchasable on the open market.

f Pressurelflter ilmztenyf purchasable- -on Jthe openmarket; nto which ftl'retreated water can be passed byhmeans, of connecting-eondtiitsi21 andiZZ connected to frlterinlet means -23-'an d24; :Suitable filter Yservicea'alves- -and-261intheconnectin-g 'conduits-'are openedV and 'closed -toedirect the ow o'f treated xx'raterintoV` one or thegotherfof'; thelters'which is in serviceiuse;

`Thelower end o'fftheii-lters19 and120 are yeach provided--withflter -outletsf27- 128 iinturn-connectedto 'a common bypass conduit ZSV-w'lich is 4connectedtothe main treated water conduit 16 at apoint beyond abyjpass va1ve fi30 normallyr 'maintainedrclosed when theY system is in servicefoperanion.v 'Thusvtheetreated -and filtered vwater is? prevented-from Aintermixing `'but the V'iilter-battery can Abe Albypassedwhen Y:necessary in connection with theoperation of the system.l

Eachiofftheiilter discharge outlets27 and .28 is provided with ya -lter service outlet valve l31fandl 32 which yis operatedto control the flow of water vfrom 'itslrespective fil-ter to the bypass conduit 129, all ofrtfheV above being clearly 'shown by the-drawing.

`Secondary softener vbattery "#Ihe filtered water vin ithe main =treated `waterfconduit116 beyond the :bypass valve 3l) yis-'next -passedlinsnormal service operation to `the seconda-ry softener battery A18 which will include a softener or yas'shownsofteners 33 and 34 comprising a tank with water softening material such as Zeolitetherein, of any suital'sle-:type of-which there are many-.easily-purchasable `on ythe open market; 'by' connecting conduits 35 and 36 connected between the main treated water conduit 16 andthe lrespectivesof-tener `inlet meansl 37'and 38.

lSu'itablegsoftener inlet valves 39 and 40 in-ftheconnec-ting conduits 35 `and 36, are opened and closed vto direct -theow of iltered water through oneer'the other of v:the .softeners. l y y The lower end of the softeners -33 and 34t-are each providedlwith softener outlets `41 and v42 in turnlconnected to lacommon service conduit 43 which leads to ithefpoint where `the now treated,v Alltered -and softened waterwill be-placed Ainto industrial use. Y

-Eachoffthe softener outlets 41 and 42'is provided with a softener service outletcontrol valve 44 and45-Whiehis operatedlto control the flow of treated,- iltered, softened water from its-respective :softener tothe commonservice conduit 43,v all'oflwhich' isY clearly shownby ther-ligure showing the 'invent-ion. 1

llt iseustomary-procedure-during normal 'service -opera` tion-'to use only one ofithe'lters Iandone ofithesofteners at-a time. The lter not-in use willthenf'be cleanedfiand the softener not in use will be cleaned-and regenerated at some time dur-ingtheperiod.` For -`thispurpose abackwash system'forbackwashing the-iiiters and fthe softeners andn'a; regenerating system -for -regenerating'fthe secondarys'oteners: alone aref provided.'

gckwqsh system The Y. backwash system; is.v common; to ibotfh. theadilter the flow 4through said washiwater conduit 53 torbe con- `trolled""by-"a Wash lWater-valve -54 `provided `therein' las shown in the drawing.

The backwashing pump 53 has its discharge connected to a common backwash line 55, in turn connected by backwash connecting conduits 56 and 57 to the filter outlets 27 and 28 respectively'zand.connecting conduits 58 and 59 to thesecondary.softenenoutlets 41 and 42 respectively, each ofsaid connecting conduits 56, 57, 58 landj59 :to fbetopened and..-closedaby .hackvmsht control valvesot); 5.61-, 62 .andf63athereon s o fthat-when the-:backwashing pump 53 is in operation wash watercan be pumped .through fthe y common backwash .line .5 5 into the connecting conduits which are opened by operation of battery17 and thefsecondary lsoftener batteryJl'S, suitable `passes from the wash water compartment 51 tht-.Qlzlglblhe' oeeetedf ,thezsuetleneoffafbackwashingfpnmpr;

the control valvesr160,f6-1, L62 and463.4

When wash water enters either of the lilters 19 and 20 or secondary softeners 33 and 34, it will be displaced upwardly, cleansingl the filter or softener vby .itsrinsing action.` This wash lwater,is thenled .back thrbughsuitable onduitsliereinafter described will bie ,retreated yand passed tol service 1in. themanner Aabove described.

Thus, .When one or thefotherof therlters orthesvecondf aryl softeners areV j inoperation, the remaining'jlter and softener willhave theseryice valveZS or 26'..and .3 9 .or 4D. closedthereo'n and canfthus recei e thewash water therein. i

YThe used washwater fromthe filters is led to a common wash waterreturnline 64through washwater connecting ,conduits 65`andl66connected between the common wash waterV Ietulnlline 64fand Athe respective Vlinlets .23 and 24 ontheilters 19, and 20 and wash water-connecting conf duits` 6,7and, 68 connected between the common wash waterv returnQline. 64 and ,the respectiveinlets 37 and .38 en t'he secondary softeners 3,3 and34. The wash water is ledlthroughthe. common vwash' water return ,line 64 back tolthecommon washwaterreturn .inlet69 on the Water softener 1 whereitjons theincoming raw .waterjn the main softener Landis retreated therewith. ,Suitable wash: water valves.; 70, V7]., 72 and .73, will ,control the return dow of wash water fromthe lters andsecondary softeners.

.Regenerating `erstem Thesecondary softeners f33 and 34 `-are'eotlthe general type which have gained wide acceptance'vin thewater treating'ii'eld; -As *is known; howeverQ-the'capacity lof `the ion-exchange4 material to l produce Athe desired result lbef comesfexhausted?-and'in order-'to Vreturnit to Aits noriginal compositionL lfor again -and again; it must be `regenerated=under conditions which producev minimum depreciation ofthe capacity-ofthe material -being'used 'Themore! general type*l off'- ion-'exchange materials utilized,willrequire-replacement of-the acceptedsodium ions to Arender the material satisfactory again to-produce tledeSred'conditionofithewater-*for-service. "S'uch'type replacement o'afnle`w accomplished-by bathing-the lionexchangematerial insasolutiomo sodiumelrloride which solution ist: nailed in herart a mining-solution. The abovementoned. replacement lcycle fis. .called i .the sodiumfcycle {typefof- 'regenena'tionn :It :willfbe mitler-v stood thawed; nreferrediillustration is'merely illustrative Oflllwnt?Qf'lheveral trpesfyelesvthat areppssible E01' example?. alkalinityf can be remved by regeneration withanfacd spolutigm.v Sulphateandchloride .ions can elated with ,a sodium carbonatesolution inconwith an acid Acycle exchanger'efC-f andrtherefore the use of other cycles vvtillnot depart from therspiit of the-presentinvention nor ale'ctthe' application thereof to these other solutions.

Accordingly, referring to therdrawing; `a= 'direct'contact regeneratingjlreatertanll'w Si'sprovided 'wi-tirasteamir'rletwhich is: connected llby steam conduit i76 to` a steam .f outlet`77 in the main softener 1 softlatste'amows-om @MM50 tea-washwate -cendunf @minstens there the-source? k(rmthoxivrr):tothemafin sof-'tcnerland thence through theecondnitr 7.6; toA the; direct.s contact heater` 74 when the steam control valve 78 which controls theflow thereto is open.

The direct contact heater 74 may be of any approve type easily purchasable on the open market. It is normally not utilized as a deaerator, however, in the present arrangement in addition to acting as a mixing, storage and heating unit, for brining solution, it also acts to deaerate as is hereinafter described.

Concentrated sodium chloride solution from a suitable reservoir (not shown) is led by conduit 79 to an inlet 80at the upper end of the direct contact heater 74. Raw water supplied to the concentrated sodium chloride solution to dilute it for regeneration as required, is supplied by a supplementary raw water conduit 81 connected between the main raw water inlet line 2 and the conduit 79 just before it enters the inlet 80. Suitable control valves 82 and 83 are provided in the respective conduits 79 and 81 to control the flow to the direct contact heater 74, all of which is clearly shown in the drawing.

A volumetric rate flow indicator 84 is provided in line 79 to determine the quantity of concentrated sodium chloride flowing from the reservoir (not shown) to the direct contact heater 74.

' Thus when the control valves 78, 82 and 83 are open sodium chloride solution will ow into said direct contact heater 74 and be brought into direct contact with the incoming steam where it is heated releasing the oxygen and non-condensible gases therein, the condensate formed being stored inthe lower or storage portion of the direct contact heater for use as regenerant solution. A vent `assembly 85 is provided on the direct contact heater 74 to vent these released gases to atmosphere.

` The lower or storage end of the direct contact heater 74 is provided with a discharge outlet 86 which is connected to the suction of a pump 87 by means of connecting conduit 88, a control valve 89 therein to control the llow of regenerant solution from the direct contact heater 74 to the pump 87. A priming line 90 is also provided for the pump 87 which bypasses back to the upper end of the direct contact heater 74.

The suction of the pump 87 is also connected to the treated water bypass conduit 29 by a connecting conduit 91, having the flow therethrough controlled by avalve 92 so that when it is desired to pump treated water as hereinafter described by suitably controlling the valve members 31 and 32 and 92, treated water can be conducted to y.the pump 87 for use in the regeneration system as desired.

The secondary softeners 33 and 34 pass used regenerant A solution through the outlets'41 and 42 respectively, and waste regenerant solution connecting conduits 102 and 103 to a common waste conduit 104 which leads the used regenerant solution to a suitable disposal point. The usual waste regenerant solution control valves 105 and 106 are provided for the conduits 102 and 103 to control the liow therethrough.

through the conduits 94, and 96 wheii their respective valves 98, 99 and 100 are adjusted as desired to control the ow; fourth, it can return unused regenerant solution to the reservoir by adjusting the control valves 83 or 92, 97 and 98 accordingly, and fifth, it can iecirculate raw or treated water and pass it to the secondary softeners 33 and 34 to slowly bring up the softeners to the operational temperature during the starting up process.

Operation The regeneration system above described performs i three main functions (1) preheating of the secondary softeners before putting them into service use, (2) regeneration of one or the other of the softeners as desired, and (3) repumping of unused regenerant solution back to the reservoir (not shown).

Thus in starting up, all valves are normally closed. The secondary softener 33 or 34 which is to be placed in service is brought to temperature by circulating pretreated water therethrough. This is done by circulating raw or treated water by pump 87 through the direct contact heater 74 by means of lines 88, 93 and 79 connected thereto until by stages it is passed in its heated condition to warm up the desired secondary softeners. The `control valves 98, 99 or 100 and 105 or 106 being adjusted for the desired results.

After the desired softener 33 or 34 reaches operating temperature all valves are closed, and then the various service control inlet and outlet valves on the filters and softeners to be used are opened and the unit will pass treated, filtered and softened water through line 43 to service.

When it isV desired to backwash or regenerate either of the filters or softeners not in use, the pumps 53 or 87 are employed, as above described. Normal service operation can of course continue undisturbed during these processes. v

While one form of the invention has been illustrated and described it is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and it will be understood that the invention is therefore not to be limited to this specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of bringing the ion exchange type secondary softener battery of a precipitating type water softening system up to operating temperature which consists in simultaneously passing steam and water to a direct contact heater, recirculating the water through said heater to heat and to deaerate the Water, delivering the preheated and deaerated water to said secondary softener battery to gradually heat the ion exchange material therein up to operating temperature, and passing the cooled water from said secondary softener battery to waste. l

2. The method of bringing the ion exchange type secondary softener battery of a precipitating type water softening system up to Operating temperature as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water delivered to the direct contact heater has been treated and filtered. 3. The method of regenerating an ion exchange type secondary softener battery of a precipitating type water softening system which consists in simultaneously passing steam, water and concentrated regenerant solution to a direct contact heater independently of each other, recirculating` the mixture of water and concentrated regenerant solution through said direct contact heater to deaerate said mixture and to bring it up to regenerating temperature, passing the preheated and deaerated mixture to the secondary softener battery to regenerate the ion exchange material therein 4without thermal strain, and passing the used mixture from said secondary softener battery to Waste.

4. The method of regenerating an ion exchange type apr/amas 17 secondaryisoiteninghattery tot afprecipitatingztype water softeningsystemnwhich :consists fin, simuttaneously passing steam, water andanoncentrated: sregenerant: solution to .a 'directzcontactyheater Iindependentlyofv :each other, recirtculating-:thesmixture 'ofi water 4and concentrated regenerant 'solution throughisaid dilect` contactv heater :to -deaerate saidfmixture auditor-'bring it upftoffregeneratingtemperature, passing-the-gpreheatedranddeaerated 'mixture to the secondary softening battery to regenerate the ion exchange material therein without thermal strain, passing -fthezused regenerant mixture fromtsaidrsecondary softener battery fito waste, andfreturningunused-regenerant mixture from saiddirect contact heater to the source for concentratedfregenerant solution.

'5l In-afiwaterxtra-ratingsystem the combination 'with-a secondary softener battery having-ion exchange or the -like typelsoftening materialthereinto receive lthetreated 1andf1ltered waterland toapass-the'same to service, of fa Vdirectcontact heater connectedto `a source of steam fand Va source ofwvater, means connected-f'to said. direct contact heater for recirculating 4-wa'ter `therethrough to :heat and -to deaerate said* water, `conduit 'means to'connect said -reclirculating means toifsaid secondary softener battery yfor deliveringpreheated and -deaera'ted water thereto `to bring the ionexchan-ge material in said secondary 4softener battery up toroperating temperature when :starting up,- yvalve means in said conduit means for controlling -the '-ow of said water from the direct-contact heater to Vsaid secondary-softener battery, and saidsecondary -softener battery -having outlets therein lfor passing said lpreheated and Y deaerated water to vWaste.

6. In a water treating system the combinationwith a secondary softener battery lhav'ing ion'exchange or the like type softening material therein'to receive the treated 'andtiltered Water and topa-ss the same to service, of-fa `dir-ect V.contact heater connected'to -a 'source of steam, means connecting a source of water and a source lof concentrated regenerant solution to `said direct-contact heater, vvalve `meansin saidv connecting means to control the tl'ow of -said water and -regenerantsolution -to yform-a regenerant mixture for regeneration of thei'on exchange material -in 'said secondaryv softener battery, meansconnected to-said direct contact heater to-recirculate 'said mixture therethrough to preheat and deaerate the mixture, conduit means connecting said recirculation means to said sect onda-ry softener battery to pass preheated and deaerated Vregenerant mixture to said secondary softener batteryY for regenerating t-he ion 4exchange material therein without 'thermal strai-n, and valve means in said conduit means to control ythe Howof said mixture to saidfse'condary -sott'enerl battery, and said secondary 'softener battery fhaving outlets 5to pass used regenerant mixture-to waste.

7.y In la water treating system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said"recirculaton meansv is connected to said source of concentrated-regenerant solution to return unl A used regenerant mixture from said direct contact heater tozsai-dfsource o'f concentrated 'regenerant solution.

8. In a water treating-system the combinationwith 'a lter battery to filter treated water'therethrough and a secondary softener battery having ion exchange or the like type softening materialtherein'to receive the treated and filtered water and -to ypass the same toservice, of a direct contact `,heater `connected :to a rsource of zsteam, means connected to said direct contact heater lfor Arecirculatingdluidrtherethrough to 'heat and deaerate said luid, said recirculatingmeans connected Vto :said filter battery Ioprovide a Asourcefzof treated and :filtered fluid `for recirculationizthrough :said directicontact theater, conduit means connecting. said recirculation means to said secondary softener battery for delivering preheated and deaerated tluidvrto said softener battery to bring the ion exchange material :therein iup to`4 operatingftemperature when start- 'in'g".up, kvalve meanssirusaid Vconduit means to control the -ow of ssaiduidltrom Vsaid direct contact heater to said .secondary softenerfbattery, and said secondary softener battery h'aving.=outletstherein for passing said preheated `anddeaerated waterr to waste.

9.- .-n arwatertreatingsystem the combination with a :tilterV battery yto rlter-.treated water therethrough and a secondary #softener :battery having Vion 'exchange or the like type softeningumaterial therein to receive the treated :andltered water andftospass the Vsame to service, of a :direct Contact fheater :connected to a source of steam, tmean's connecting fa sourcefof concentrated regenerant solution to said direct contact heater 'having a metering Smeanslthereinltoi control ytheow of said concentrated regenerant solutiontorsaid'f direct contactheater, a recirculatio'n m'eansnconnected tofsaid'direct contact heater for :recirculatinguid'therethrough tozheat and to deaerate fsai'dzfluid, saidirecirculatingmea-ns connected to said lter battery `tofprovidaa :source oftreated and ltered water `:forv mixturewith said concentrated regenerant solution 1in said aiirecticontact'lheater to provide a regenerant mixture for regeneration' oftheion exchange material in said secondary softener fbattery, lconduitmeans connecting said recirculation vmeans-i110 said :secondary softener battery for delivering:thepreheatedfand deaerated regenerant mix- -ture' .nfom said. direct'icontact heater to said secondary 'softenerrliattery to'fregenerate the ion exchange material iinsaidfseconda'ryvsoftener battery without thermal strain, valvemeans inrsaid v conduitn1eans -tolco'ntrol the flow of said regenerant mixture from said direct contact heater 'to said 4secondarysoftener battery, and said secondary softenerbattery'having outlets therein for passing said lused 'regenerant mixture to waste.

RefereneesCited-in the tile of this patent `'STATES VPAIEN'ITS '622,614 Fleetwoodv Apr. 4, 1899 7533860 Destombes Mar. s, '1904 '1,442,348 Menerme't Jan. 16, 1923 1.;s;63's' McDonald 1an. 31; 1933 Y 2,312,370 Meier Mar. 2, 1943 2,379,753' sebai'd July 3, 1945 12,669,713 Vosmun Feb. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,706 Great Britain '1912 UTI-IER REFERENCES Power Generatiomvol. 53, No, 10, October 1949 pp.

Gas World, May'31, 1947, pp. 688-691. 

1. THE METHOD OF BRINGING THE ION EXCHANGE TYPE SECONDARY SOFTENER BATTERY OF A PRECIPITATING TYPE WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE WHICH CONSISTS IN SIMULTANEOUSLY PASSING STEAM AND WATER TO A DIRECT CONTACT HEATER, RECIRCULATING THE WATER THROUGH SAID HEATER TO HEAT AND TO DEAERATE THE WATER, DELIVERING THE PREHEATED AND DEAERATED WATER TO SAID SECONDARY SOFTENER BATTERY TO GRADUALLY HEAT THE ION EXCHANGE MATERIAL THEREIN UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE, AND PASSING THE COOLED WATER FROM SAID SECONDARY SOFTENER BATTERY TO WASTE. 